MINISTERIAL ETHICS AND

ETIQUETTE

Elder (Apostle) Harry L. Jackson

Christ Foundation Ministries, Inc.
Rochester, New York
www.christfoundationchurch.com
©2014 Christ Foundation Ministries, Inc.
 “Building God’s People
on a Firm Foundation”

Elder (Apostle) Harry L. Jackson was born in Rochester, NY, on July 2, 1962, and served in
the United States Army from 1981-1989. After leaving the Army, he resided in Germany for
11 years, and accepted Jesus Christ in November 1991 in the Germany Jurisdiction of the
Churches of God in Christ, where he served until 1999, first as an Usher, and then in Audio
Ministry, Sound Reinforcement, Evangelism, his local, district and Jurisdictional Music
Departments, as a choir member, psalmist, worship leader, and musician, provided
computer support, and helped to establish a ministry in a refugee camp in Germany. On
March 5, 1995, he answered the call of God to preach the Gospel, and received his
Ministerial License in October 1999, upon his return to the United States. He was ordained
as an Elder in February 2005, and as a Pastor in June of 2007. Apostle Jackson holds
Associate degrees in Christian Ministry, Business Administration, Computer Programming,
and Web Design, and will pursue his Bachelor's in 2013. Bro. Jackson served as Professor
of Homiletics at United Christian Ministry Institute Rochester, New York Campus, from
2010-2012, and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Christian Ministry in 2010 for his
work there. He, along with his wife, Pastor Cheryl L. Jackson founded Christ Foundation
Ministries, Inc. in 2007, and after serving three years under the oversight of Apostle
Bernetha Mouzon of Global Dominion International Network, with whom he cofounded
ECAPS (East Cost Apostolic and Prophetic Summit), was commissioned and ordained as
an Apostle on September 16, 2012.
 The Basis of Ministry
Ministry is based on three
premises:

• A call from God. (Ex. 3:10-

12, Jer. 1:4-10, 17)

• A commitment to God. (Jn.

4:34, 1 Cor. 6:20)

• A commitment to serving
and ministering to people.
(Matt. 9:36)
 Having theThe Right Attitude
Towards Ministry
Matthew 20:21-29-

20: Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children with her sons, worshipping him,
and desiring a certain thing of him.
21: And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two
sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom.
22: But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the
cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?
They say unto him, We are able.
23: And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the
baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine
to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.
24: And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren.
25: But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles
exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.
26: But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be
your minister;
27: And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:
28: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give
his life a ransom for many.
29: And as they departed from Jericho, a great multitude followed him.
Minister (Strong’s # 1247 Gr.) diakŏnia,
dee-ak-on-ee´-ah; attendance (as a
servant, etc.); aid (official), minister (-ing, -
tration, , -try), office, relief, service (-ing).
diakŏnŏs, to run on errands; an attendant,
i.e. a waiter (at table or in other menial
duties); spec. a Christian teacher and
pastor (tech. A deacon or deaconess)-
deacon, minister, servant.
 Church Myths Concerning Ministry
Myth #1: One must have a “title” in order to have
ministry.
The Truth: There are no titles in the church, but
functions. Although God does call certain ones to
occupy leadership positions in the church (ie.
Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and
Teachers) what one does in the church does not
indicate that one is entitled to a place of superiority
or importance over his brothers and sisters, but
rather, is given greater responsibility. (Luke 12:47-
48, James 3:1)
 Church Myths Concerning Ministry
Myth #2: Those who occupy the pulpit are somehow
higher, better, or more spiritual than others.

The Truth: The pulpit is not a place of exaltation, but

of service. God has placed us there to see (to) the
needs of His people. (1 Peter 5:1-4)
 Church Myths Concerning Ministry
Myth #3: It is wrong to aspire to leadership in
the church.
The Truth: It is biblically acceptable to aspire
to a position of leadership in the church.
1Timothy 3:1- “This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he
desireth a good work.”
Bishop (1 Tim. 3 1-7) (Strong’s # 1984(5) Gr.) ĕpiskŏpŏs, overseer.

However, the following conditions must be met...

 Motives for Ministry
• Our reasons for aspiring to a ministry
position must be Godly ones. We
must desire God’s will above our
own. (Matt. 26:42)

• We must be willing to submit to

Godly church leadership, and endure
God’s building process to enable us
to carry the anointing (gifts +
Christlike character = power) that He
has placed on our lives. (1Tim. 3:6)

• We must be sure that God has called

us to a place of leadership in the
church. It is dangerous and
presumptuous to attempt to step into
a ministry office that God has not
called us to. (Heb. 5:4)
 1 Peter 5:1-4
1: The elders which are among you I
exhort, who am also an elder, and
a witness of the sufferings of
Christ, and also a partaker of the
glory that shall be revealed:
2: Feed the flock of God which is
among you, taking the oversight
thereof, not by constraint, but
willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a
ready mind;
3: Neither as being lords over God's
heritage, but being ensamples to
the flock.
4: And when the chief Shepherd shall
appear, ye shall receive a crown of
glory that fadeth not away.
 Ministers Are to Set the Example
1 Timothy 4:12-15-
12: Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an
example of the believers, in word, in
conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
13: Till I come, give attendance to reading, to
exhortation, to doctrine.
14: Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was
given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the
hands of the presbytery.
15: Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to
them; that thy profiting may appear to all.

1 Peter 5:2-3-
2: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking
the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but
willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
3: Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but
being ensamples to the flock.

So a minister must therefore be a servant.

 What is Ethics?
ETHICS- having to do
with right and wrong.
Good behavior and
conduct.
eth´ics, n. 1. A system of moral principles. 2. The
branch of philosophy dealing with right and wrong
and the morality of motives and ends. (Random
House Webster’s Dictionary)
 The Basis of Ethics:

• Christian ethics is based on the knowledge

of God. Without the love of God, true
ethical behavior is impossible.
• Ethical behavior cannot be imposed
(forced) on us. It must come from within.
 Starting Points for All Ethical
Behavior:
• We should learn to look
over the mistakes of
others as we would
have them to do ours.
• Relationships between
ministers must be
sound.
• There is a direct
relationship between
the life of the minister
and his or her
relationships with other
ministers, laity, and
even unbelievers.
 Therefore…
The starting point •
for ministerial
ethics is found in
being BORN
AGAIN.
Ministers, like other professionals,
are grouped together in the eyes of
the public.
 Ministers Must…
• Respect the ministries
(and pulpits) of
others.
• Stay out of the
internal affairs of
other churches.
• Never perceive
“Can two walk together, except they be agreed?”
another minister as a -Amos:3:3
threat to one’s
ministry.
Brother-and sister-liness, respect, and professional courtesy
means that ministers do not discuss other ministers and their
families with members.
 What is Etiquette?

Etiquette- socially correct behavior

and good manners.

et-i-quette n. conventional requirements for

proper social or professional behavior. (Random
House Webster’s Dictionary)
 Ethics and Etiquette- What’s the
Difference?

ETHICS ETIQUETTE

OUTSIDE

INSIDE

THE MINISTER

Ethics speaks to the inward condition, while Etiquette deals with

outward behavior.
 Examples of Unethical Behavoir
•Lying About Credentials
•Plagarism
•Misuse of Church
Funds/ Property
•Improper Relationships
With Members/ Fellow
Ministers
•Hostility/ Indifference
towards Fellow
Ministers
THE MINISTER
•Involvement in Other
Churches’ Affairs
 Etiquette and Ministry
• Like the military officer,
the minister must never
find him/ herself guilty of
“conduct unbecoming an
officer and a gentleman.”
(see 1 Tim. 3:1-7)
• The minister must never
forget that he or she must
be on guard against every
temptation that could
come up against him or
her.
• Many ministers have lost
their ministries because of
the “Death Trap.”
 What is “The Death Trap?”

1. Sex
2. Money
3. Pride

“Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.”-1Cor:10:12:
 Professional Courtesy in the Pulpit
• The pulpit should never be used as a
battleground, or to correct the behavior of
any one individual. (see 2 Tim. 2:24-25)

• It is considered a general courtesy for

preachers to listen to other preachers
when they speak.

• Plagiarism (taking and using another

person’s material) is a no-no. It is another
word for STEALING. One should at least
make mention of the source of the
information.

• When one is asked to participate in a

service (i.e. read scripture, pray, preach,
sing) one should stand up, do EXACTLY
WHAT THEY ARE ASKED TO DO, and
SIT DOWN. God is not the author of
confusion. The spirit of the prophet is
subject to the prophet. You CAN help it!
(see 1 Cor. 14:32-33)
 CONTACT INFORMATION

Harry L. Jackson
2123 Titus Avenue
Rochester, New York 14622

E-Mail: christfoundation@gmail.com

Web: www.christfoundationchurch.com

Phone: (585) 305-2339

For ministry requests, please see our “Ministry Request Form” at the CFM Website.